It is one of football’s freakier facts that Brazil, five-time champions of the
world, have never claimed Olympic gold, the one Fifa prize to elude them,
despite so often fielding so many stars.

It must be of particular frustration for Brazil that such rivals as Argentina and Uruguay have gathered gold on their Olympic travels.

London 2012 makes it a dozen Olympics for the boys in the most celebrated strip in sport.

The closest they have come to the top podium has been silver in 1984 with the likes of Dunga and again with Taffarel, Romario and Bebeto in 1988. So the pressure is on Mano Menezes, the Olympic and senior coach, as well as such starlets as Neymar.

Brazil face South Korea at Old Trafford today for a place in Saturday’s Wembley final against either Mexico or Japan. Brazil are favourites, having scored three times in each of their four games.

For all their defensive flaws, Brazil boast a sumptuous attack. Neymar, barely out of his teens, has starred along with Leandro Damião, a heavyweight, goalscoring No 9.

For all the hype surrounding Neymar, Brazil’s No 11 is human, missing a glorious chance against New Zealand.

He is also a bit of a tumble-tot, milking a challenge from Wilmer Crisanto in the quarter-final against Honduras, and bringing an ill-deserved second yellow for the defender. Neymar was then caught in the chest by Arnold Peralta and went down clutching his face.

If he sees the light on the dark arts, Neymar owns the technique to become a global phenomenon. He has already displayed his prolific qualities with Santos.

Socks pulled up over his knees, Neymar demonstrated his gifts on these shores with a particularly eye-catching show against Honduras at St James’ Park.

Peralta, a right-back with No 6 on his back, dread in his heart and blurred vision by the end, was turned inside out by Neymar, who kept sashaying past him with the ball. In one cameo bordering on the comic, Peralta chased Neymar across the pitch, attempting to grab and kick him.

Neymar is a threat with dead ball as well as moving, sweeping in corners right-footed, even a penalty against Honduras. He ran away, sucking his thumb in celebration.

But it is Neymar’s passing that really stood out against Honduras, threading the ball through for Hulk to create Damião's first and then a silky turn and pass for Damião to run on and score.

At the final whistle, Alexander Lopez won the race to claim Neymar’s shirt.

“I’ve been told that he is one of the best players in the world but there are many players we have to consider from Brazil,’’ said the South Korean coach, Hong Myung-Bo. Indeed. Along with Neymar, Damião shone against Honduras.

The 23 year-old has impressed whether holding the ball up or turning quickly and scoring, and he has been on target four times in the tournament. He would be a huge hit in the Premier League.

Inevitably, many of the Brazilians are being linked with wealthy English suitors. Take Hulk – and many Premier League clubs would love to. Hulk acquired his nickname from his father, an admirer of the comic-book hero.

He is an established goalscoring force with Porto, although a struggling display in last season’s 4-0 loss at the Etihad drew chants of “you’re not incredible” from the Manchester City faithful. Ludicrously, Porto briefly considered complaining to Uefa about the taunts.

There is a hinterland to Hulk, a story behind the star. If he scores against South Korea, Hulk will point to the heavens in memory of his niece who died after falling in a swimming pool at a family gathering in 2010.

One of Brazil’s over-age players here, the 26-year-old has shown flashes of his class but not the sort of form that saw him linked with a lucrative transfer to Chelsea.

Oscar has moved to the Bridge for £25 million and, judging by his nascent career at Sao Paulo and particularly Internacional, he will place pressure on Frank Lampard.

Although versatile, Oscar is arguably at his most effective gliding through the centre, releasing team-mates or letting fly himself from range, usually right-footed but occasionally sneaking in a left-footer.

His all-round game has been seen in the Olympics, the man in the fabled yellow No 10 shirt creating goals for Rafael and Damião against Egypt and scoring against Belarus.

One obvious concern: Oscar may need to bulk up for the rigours of the Premier League.

An Olympic colleague who may follow Oscar in staying on in England is Lucas Moura, a quick, goalscoring attacking midfielder of the type that Manchester United so obviously need.

United’s pursuit of the Sao Paulo starlet has been complicated by interest from Paris St-Germain and it will be interesting to see the reception he gets at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.

Most will be hoping that the team who so love attacking, the team of Neymar and Damião, progress in their quest for gold.